Hardware Recommend Cheap Solder and reflow station ?

[Canna]

Hi there guys , im looking to buy a soldering station and rework station
or aio. i see some cheap ones on ebay and noticed some of them are not grounded correctly and are neutral and live reversed and also not correctly wired to fuse...

I do not have a lot of funds and wanted to see what use guys/girls have used and what you recommend or your thoughts on cheap stations

I was looking at that 989d station on ebay

 

[Huntereb]

Hakko FX888D.

 

[mrdude]

Firstly you should state how much money you are wanting to spend, also what features you require - Hot Air/vacuum pump/digitally controller etc. Also how likely are you to use it - daily/weekly/yearly. What are you going to use it for SMD, through hole components. How easy is it to get replacement tips and heater elements - etc.....

Once you answer those questions, you can get a station more for you needs - rather than the cost.

 

[Canna]

Firstly you should state how much money you are wanting to spend, also what features you require - Hot Air/vacuum pump/digitally controller etc. Also how likely are you to use it - daily/weekly/yearly. What are you going to use it for SMD, through hole components. How easy is it to get replacement tips and heater elements - etc.....

Once you answer those questions, you can get a station more for you needs - rather than the cost.

£50 -£70

Digital or analog, Probably be used once a month or less,depending what i get upto.
Want something i can just pick up and use ya know. Sure il use it for chips, smds,Ic etc Basically a all rounder, i wont be doing bga with it fck that lol, tip elements and that i wont mind replacing or how easy it is . would like spares or be able to get them ovb, The cost is important as im cheap unfortunately atm. as im outta work and dont claim benefits,, im making little to nothing on the side helping others by pc repair.

Edit deleted my original answer as it was not right of me to reply and misread mrdude

 

[Duo8]

Probably one of those $20 hakko clones.
If you want something small there's the $50 TS-100.

EDIT: lol there's also the $80 TS-80 with usb-c. You can power it with the switch power brick.

 

[Canna]

Probably one of those $20 hakko clones.
If you want something small there's the $50 TS-100.

Thank you.. yeah i was looking at the t100, see that rossmann reccomends it also, looks like a good iron and its portable.. long as you have the right equipment to power it

 

[Duo8]

Thank you.. yeah i was looking at the t100, see that rossmann reccomends it also, looks like a good iron and its portable.. long as you have the right equipment to power it

Didn't know he has one, now I'll have to find that video.
You just need a laptop power brick that fits.

 

[justinadams]

I dont know if it's what you're looking for, but at work I use the Aoyue 968A+. it's not great by any means, but it works and will get you started.

 

[MatinatorX]

As mentioned in the other thread, I've been doing SMD work pretty consistently for over a year now and these are my preferred "on a budget" tools:

- TS-100 with default flat tip and 0.032" ball tip and at least 55W power from supply, with custom firmware
- WEP 858D hot air station modified to be safe
- Yosker flux pens
- cheap throwaway mini yellow ebay sponges
- cheap PCB clamp and microscope

Biggest things in soldering are to keep your tip clean, flux your wires and your pads and always put less solder on your tip than you think you need

 

[Canna]

As mentioned in the other thread, I've been doing SMD work pretty consistently for over a year now and these are my preferred "on a budget" tools:

- TS-100 with default flat tip and 0.032" ball tip and at least 55W power from supply, with custom firmware
- WEP 858D hot air station modified to be safe
- Yosker flux pens
- cheap throwaway mini yellow ebay sponges
- cheap PCB clamp and microscope

Biggest things in soldering are to keep your tip clean, flux your wires and your pads and always put less solder on your tip than you think you need

Thing is with the TS irons you need something to power it, i know you can get a psu for $15 thats more then anoth and nt bad of brand, looks like a great iron but would like to know the jack input size so i can use maybe a laptop power cable.. anyway i appreciate yours and everyone elses comments, if i had the money you know id be buying hakko weller etc so on but i dont hence why i need everyone's help,
Hell send me your old good working gear haha

998D
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/858D-998...DC-Power-Supply/173044767871?var=471807956421

WEP
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-...n-Station-Rework-Welder-4-Nozzle/112520929520

Katsu
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KATSU-85...756798&hash=item41b38d4587:g:zWwAAOSwCQZZAZXY

Rework gun
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Sold...571481?hash=item239f8b7259:g:~GEAAOSwFSxZ8vTe

TS80
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-Sma...388529?hash=item1a5b359771:g:k5QAAOSwB3pbcZ-P

TS100
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Por...hash=item41e2c7ad84:m:mzdW-6-PkIyQrPNWKcsXmiQ

These are just some of the items i am looking at, im not going to be using this everyday or month, just when i need to use it il get it out plug it in and expect it to work and heat up fast and not be a ball ache to use, would like to be able to get parts ive seen guns and irons for these sure tips or most are generic between these cheap ones..

My budget is £50 really , but will push to £70 as im not working and i dont have income or claim any benefits or social care atm.

You all have your Likes and dislikes and would like to hear them all and advice. thanks

Also im in the uk 240v

 

[MatinatorX]

Thing is with the TS irons you need something to power it, i know you can get a psu for $15 thats more then anoth and nt bad of brand, looks like a great iron but would like to know the jack input size so i can use maybe a laptop power cable.. anyway i appreciate yours and everyone elses comments, if i had the money you know id be buying hakko weller etc so on but i dont hence why i need everyone's help,
Hell send me your old good working gear haha

998D
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/858D-998...DC-Power-Supply/173044767871?var=471807956421

WEP
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-...n-Station-Rework-Welder-4-Nozzle/112520929520

Katsu
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KATSU-85...756798&hash=item41b38d4587:g:zWwAAOSwCQZZAZXY

Rework gun
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LCD-Sold...571481?hash=item239f8b7259:g:~GEAAOSwFSxZ8vTe

TS80
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-Sma...388529?hash=item1a5b359771:g:k5QAAOSwB3pbcZ-P

TS100
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Por...hash=item41e2c7ad84:m:mzdW-6-PkIyQrPNWKcsXmiQ

These are just some of the items i am looking at, im not going to be using this everyday or month, just when i need to use it il get it out plug it in and expect it to work and heat up fast and not be a ball ache to use, would like to be able to get parts ive seen guns and irons for these sure tips or most are generic between these cheap ones..

My budget is £50 really , but will push to £70 as im not working and i dont have income or claim any benefits or social care atm.

You all have your Likes and dislikes and would like to hear them all and advice. thanks

Also im in the uk 240v

Luckily the TS-100 is a standard 2.5mm (D) x 5.5mm (L) DC barrel jack plug. I think I grabbed a spare power supply online for $10 CAD.

If you're on a tight budget and aren't beating the crap out of your tools like me, you can get by with something cheaper. I used to use the cheapest Weller butane iron you could get, the ML500MP. It was like $30 bucks and worked pretty darn well, although I don't know if I'd try it with anything smaller than 0805 components. Every few months it would die (the regulator clogs and eventually you won't get any butane from the tip) and I'd just get another one, but I treated it horribly because I knew it was cheap. I remember what it was like living off a few bucks a day and it is not fun, sorry man. I'd stay away from the hot air station for now, it's more of a convenience than a requirement. If you have to choose one or the other, definitely grab the soldering iron instead. I'd stay away from the TS-80 purely because it costs more, but you'll also have a harder time finding cheap compatible power supplies and, while I've heard it's not as much of an issue as it sounds like it is, your maximum wattage will be a good bit lower than with the TS-100.

 

[Canna]

Luckily the TS-100 is a standard 2.5mm (D) x 5.5mm (L) DC barrel jack plug. I think I grabbed a spare power supply online for $10 CAD.

If you're on a tight budget and aren't beating the crap out of your tools like me, you can get by with something cheaper. I used to use the cheapest Weller butane iron you could get, the ML500MP. It was like $30 bucks and worked pretty darn well, although I don't know if I'd try it with anything smaller than 0805 components. Every few months it would die (the regulator clogs and eventually you won't get any butane from the tip) and I'd just get another one, but I treated it horribly because I knew it was cheap. I remember what it was like living off a few bucks a day and it is not fun, sorry man. I'd stay away from the hot air station for now, it's more of a convenience than a requirement. If you have to choose one or the other, definitely grab the soldering iron instead. I'd stay away from the TS-80 purely because it costs more, but you'll also have a harder time finding cheap compatible power supplies and, while I've heard it's not as much of an issue as it sounds like it is, your maximum wattage will be a good bit lower than with the TS-100.

Sorry budd did not notice you replied, so yeah ok. im thinking i may just get that 989d for £33 uses the same damn air gun as yours well very very similar looking at it, and buy the t100 also
can you link me up some power sources for the ts100 please.

i was looking at the Aoyue 968A+ pretty damn cool, and some good reviews, bit pricey tho £125

 

[MatinatorX]

If that works best for you, then get that

When I'm not in need of a portable solution, I just use a cheap DC adapter with my TS-100 like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC-...t-AC100-240V-to-output-DC24V/32797310971.html

You want 24V with at least 3A to get the most out of the TS-100.

 

[Canna]

If that works best for you, then get that

When I'm not in need of a portable solution, I just use a cheap DC adapter with my TS-100 like this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC-...t-AC100-240V-to-output-DC24V/32797310971.html

You want 24V with at least 3A to get the most out of the TS-100.

Heard its just fine on 20,, but ok thank you

 

[MatinatorX]

Heard its just fine on 20,, but ok thank you

It does indeed work great at 20, my 5S pack peaks at 20V and I haven't run into any issues. If you're buying an AC adapter though, you might as well go for the max the TS-100 can handle as it'll only cost a buck or two more

 

[Canna]

It does indeed work great at 20, my 5S pack peaks at 20V and I haven't run into any issues. If you're buying an AC adapter though, you might as well go for the max the TS-100 can handle as it'll only cost a buck or two more

what you think of this guys https://www.banggood.com/XG-Z40-10c....html?p=FH161530283032015119&cur_warehouse=CN

 

[MatinatorX]

I haven't moved on to solder paste and stencils yet unfortunately and have zero idea what's good and what's junk. Perhaps @electronrancher can offer some help?

 

[Canna]

I haven't moved on to solder paste and stencils yet unfortunately and have zero idea what's good and what's junk. Perhaps @electronrancher can offer some help?

Thanks np....Yeah rancher wake up

 

[electronrancher]

Thanks np....Yeah rancher wake up

Lol OK I'm up!

I have a yihua 852d+, it is great. But then I got a aoyue 866 and it's better. A little cheesy on its air blower but it works fine and having the preheat and air gun holder arm is awesome.

But really, just moving to some sort of hot air will be a nice improvement. You don't have to spend much to get something that will do a good job for a long time.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

what you think of this guys https://www.banggood.com/XG-Z40-10c....html?p=FH161530283032015119&cur_warehouse=CN

PS I love mechanic solder paste! Two well burned thumbs up

 

[Canna]

Ok well thanks for your help boys...

Got the cheap station, il play for a bit and prob get the ts100 as well
for £33 fck it the air is prob worth that, its not that expensive see what happens..
See a lovely lcd magnifier screen with stand yum yum may have to get one of those,
What mag scopes are use using ?

 

[electronrancher]

I have a $5 jeweler's loupe to look at really teeny stuff, but honestly, a sherlock holmes magnifying glass would be just as good, lol.

 

[Canna]

I have a $5 jeweler's loupe to look at really teeny stuff, but honestly, a sherlock holmes magnifying glass would be just as good, lol.

Im not a octopus lol, kinda dont want to be kissing bench either lol..
doesn't your back hurt budd lol

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173015698898

The one ive seen has a better stand

also these any good or bad idea and stick to others ?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302422796439
or these
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New...cf2c-4420-a3b8-86a943c776a0&priceBeautifyAB=0